Programmable lock system

ABSTRACT

A lock structure is provided with at least first and second portions separated by a parting line, and lock pins positionable relative to said parting line by a properly programmed key to clear said parting line to permit opening of said lock. A remotely actuated programming device in said lock structure is operative coupled to said lock pins for placing said lock pins in a selected configuration. A key making device is provided for selectively forming a key of a configuration coordinated to the configuration of the lock pins as established by said programming device to permit opening of said lock.

United States Patent 1 1 Y 1 11 3, 63,676- Schachter et a1. Oct. 9, 1973 PROGRAMMABLE LOCK SYSTEM 3,444,711 5/1969 Sedley 70/276 Inventors: Jacob Schachter, 3,595,042 7/1971 Sedley 70/276 Huntington; Zygmund Reich, Dix FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Hills; David Greenberg, Old 180,112 4/1966 U.S.S.R 70/276 Bethpage, all of NY.

[73] Assignee: Instrument Systems Corporation, Primary craigi Jericho, L 1" NY. Attorney-Alex Freidman et a1.

[22] FIIed: June 12, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl- 2611839 A lock structure is provided with at least first and second portions separated by a parting line, and lock pins 52 us. Cl 70/264, 70/276, 70/382, positionable relative Said Parting line by a PmPerlY 317/134, 340/149 A programmed key to clear said parting line to permit 511 int. Cl. E05b 47/04 Opening of said lock- A femmely actuated Program" 58 Field of Search 70/276, 264; ming device said structure is opemive 317/134; 340/149 A to said lock pins for placing said lock pins in a selected configuration. A key making device is provided 56] References Cited for selectively forming a key of a configuration coordi- UNITED STATES PATENTS nated to the configuration of the lock pins as established by said programming device to permit opening 2,931,953 4/1960 Barney 317/134 of Said lock 3,015,087 12/1961 ,O'Gorman... 3,154,761 10/1964 OGorman 340/149 A 19 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDom ems QUE QM SHEEI 10F 6 PATENTED OCT 9 9 5 SHUT 2 OF 6 PATENIEDHBI W 3,763,676

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FIG. 9

PROGRAMMABLE LOCK SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to locking devices particularly adapted for application to hotels, security areas and the like wherein it is desirable to periodically change the configuration of the key which will open one or more locks. For example, in the case of hotels, room keys are frequently lost, stolen or copied presenting substantial risks of theft to hotel guests. Both economic and practical considerations preclude the manual changing of lock combinations in an effort to prevent such theft. Electronic lock systems wherein the key consists of a card having a magnetic, punched hole, or embossed code thereon have also been proposed, but such systems are not suitable for hotel operations since power is generally required to release the door latch, thereby presenting both practical and safety problems in case of a power failure.

' By presenting truly remotely programmable cylinder locks, a programmable lock system is provided which avoids all of the foregoingdifficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally, in accordance with the invention, a programmable lock system is provided having lock structure means including first and second portions separated by a parting line, lock pin means positionable to either block or clear said parting line, and remotely actuated programming device means operatively coupled to said lock pin means for placing said lock pin means in one of a plurality of selected configurations. Key programmingmeans is provided for placing a key in the one of a plurality of selected configurations corresponding to the selected configuration in which said lock pin means was placed by said programming device means so that said key may position said lock pin means clear of said parting lineto permit opening of said lock.

A plurality of said lock structures may be provided, a single remotely located central control means being operatively coupled to the programming device means of 'each of said programmable lock structures for the remote actuation thereof. Said key programming means may be operatively coupled to said central controlmeans for the coordinate and simultaneous programming of a key and the programming device means of a selected one of said lock structure means. The means interconnecting said central control means and each of said lock structure means may include data transmission means, central multiplexing and demultiplexing means coupling said central control means to said data transmission means and a local multiplexing and demultiplexing means connecting each of said lock structure means to said data transmission means. The lock system may include means for monitoring and/or controlling devices and sensing equipment in a region associated with each of said lock structure means, said monitoring and controlling devices being coupled to the associated local multiplexing and demultiplexing means for operative control and monitoring by said central control means.

Said lock pin means may include permanently magnetized pins selectively positionable relative to said parting line to define said plurality of selected configurations of said lock pin means. The key would include a plurality of permanent magnets positioned for registration with the permanent magnet pins of said lock pin means when said key is inserted within the first portion of said lock structure means. Said key programming means would polarize the permanent magnets of said key into a configuration corresponding to the positional configuration of said magnetic pins such that a programmed key will position the magnetic pins clear of said parting line.

In another embodiment, the lock pin means includes lock pins formed of a magnetic material, said programming means including coil means positioned about each of said magnetic lock pins for selectively polarizing said lock pins to a predetermined polarity. Said programming means may also include a fixed magnetic member aligned with each of said magnetic lock pins and a second coil means about each said fixed magnetic member for polarizing said fixed magnetic member coordinate with the polarization of said magnetic lock pin to magnetically bias said magnetic lock pin into a position blocking said parting line. In such an embodiment, said key programming means would be adapted to polarize the respective permanent magnets of said key so that each of said respective permanent magnets repels the associated magnetic lock pin from the position at which said parting line is blocked to a position at which said parting line is clear.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a lock structure which is remotely programmable.

A further object of this invention is to provide a programmable lock system wherein a plurality of lock structures are independently programmable from a remote central location.

Another object of the invention is to provide a programmable magnetic lock, wherein the key serves to repel permanent magnet pins to clear the lock parting line.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a programmable lock system which may be operated in conjunction with monitoring and control devices located in the region of each of the remotely programmable locks forming a part of the system.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will be part be apparent from the specification and drawings.

The invention accordingly comprises the feature of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the remotely programmable lock system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the remotely programmable lock in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the horseshoe magnet assembly of the programmable lock of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of one unit of the lock of FIG. 2 with the horseshoe magnet assembly disposed in the alternate position;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken respectively along lines 5-5 and 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the lock structure in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the assembled lock of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken along lines 9-9 and 10-l0 respectively of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the end of the lock of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, a programmable lock system 10 is depicted, of the type such as might be installed in a hotel or the like. Such a hotel would be provided with a plurality of rooms usually grouped by floor or wing. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the rooms are divided into two groups, for the purposes of this system designated as Group I and Group II. Each room of each group would have a door 12 provided with a programmable lock 14 in accordance with the invention. Each of the programmable locks, as will more particularly be described below, is adapted to be remotely programmed for operation by a similarly programmed key. The programming is accomplished by the establishing of the configuration of a plurality of lock pins so that a coordinately configured key will position said lock pins out of interfering alignment with a parting line to permit the opening of the lock. Each lock 14 would include a programming .device for the programming of the lock pins in response to a remotely generated signal.

This remotely generated signal is transmitted to each of the locks 14 from a central control 16 by means of multiplexing techniques. Thus, central control 16 would include conventional multiplexing and demultiplexing devices for communication with data line 18, one branch of which is connected to each of sector distributors and 22, associated respectively with Groups I and II. Said sector distributors are in the nature of repeaters and submultiplexers for transmitting the portion of the signal from data line 18 associated with the rooms of its group along its data line. Thus, sector distributor 20 is connected to the rooms of Group I along data line 24 while sector distributor 22 is connected to the rooms of Group II along data line 26. Each room would be provided with a room electronics module 28 provided with suitable multiplexing and demultiplexing equipment for detecting signals associated therewith from the associated data line and for applying data to the associated data line in suitable time slots of the multiplexed signal. In this manner, by means of multiplexing techniques, a single central control can communicate with a plurality of room electronic modules on an essentially simultaneous basis. Coded portions of the multiplex signal would identify the data associated with each room. Similarly, a coded signal would represent the configuration into which the lock pins of each programmable lock 14 are to be placed. This coded signal would be transmitted from the room electronics module 28 along line 30 to a room-door transformer having a portion 32 mounted in the door jamb and another portion mounted in a door electronics module 34 associated with each programmable lock 14. The room-door transformer may consist of a transformer having one winding in one-half of its core embedded in the door jamb and the remainder in the door. The transformer half in the door may be tongued and spring loaded so that when the door is closed there is a minimum core gap. The coded signal received in the door electronics module 34 is decoded by said door electronics module and applied to the programming device of the magnetic lock to set the configurationof the lock pins as will be more particularly described below.

Central control 16 would be provided with a manual input device 36 connected thereto by line 38 for the operation thereof. The operator of the system 10 would punch a code representative of the particular room having a lock to be reprogrammed. The actual coded signal representative of the program may be manually generated at manual input 36 or may be randomly generated by a random code generator within central control 16. In either event, a record of the code would be stored in data storage and processing device 40 coupled to central control 16 by line 42. In addition, the code can be displayed by a display device 44 coupled to central control 16 by line 46. In the embodiment of the system depicted in FIG. 1, the central control is coupled to an automatic key maker device 48 by line 50. The automatic key maker device is adapted to place a key in a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the lock pins of the designated lock 14, so that that key can open that reprogrammed lock. Thus, in order to operate system 10, a key blank would be placed in key maker 48, the operator would designate the room in which the lock is to be reprogrammed by means of manual input 36, and both said lock and key would be simultaneously and coordinately reprogrammed in response to a coded signal either manually applied through manual input 36 or automatically produced in a random code generator within central control 16. Central control 16 and manual input 36 may be located at a hotel desk so that, at the time that each new occupant of a room checks in, the lock for that room and the key associated therewith are coordinately reprogrammed.

In addition to the programming function, other uses can be made of the multiplex communications system provided between each room and the central control. Thus, a plurality of utilization circuits 52 in each room may be remotely actuated by coded signals transmitted from central control 16 to the room electronics module 28 of a particular room. Said utilization circuits would be connected to said room electronics module for operation thereby along line 54. Examples of such utilization circuits would be message at desk indicators in each room, and remote controls for lights, air conditioning and/or television in each room. Further, monitoring devices 56 could be disposed in each room for detecting fire, smoke and other emergencies. Monitors 56 would be connected to the room electronics module 28 by line 58, which connection would permit the transmission of the various monitors status back along the data lines to the central control, as well as the specific actuation of a monitor in response to an instruction from the central control. Monitors 56 may also include devices for monitoring the status of indicator switches in each room, the position of which would indicate whether a room is available for a housekeeper, whether the housekeeper has cleaned the room so that the room is available for a new guest, or whether the guest wishes bellman or valet services. All of the signals associated with the control of utilization circuits 52 and the operation of monitors 56 are transmitted along data lines 24, 26 and 18 on a multiplexed time sharing basis without interfering with the operation of the programmable lock system. The door electronics module 34 may include sensing devices for identifying the actual program to which a lock is set or to identify each key used in the lock, which information would be transmitted across the room-door transformer to room electronics module 28, which would incorporate the information into the multiplexed signal on the associated data line for transmission to central control 16.

Display 44 could be adapted to display the outputs of the various monitors 56, either on a continuing or on a selectable basis, while the various data outputs of monitors 56 and of the door electronics module 34 may be stored and processed by data storage and processing devices 40. To control the status of a particular utilization circuit, the room code, utilization circuit code and status code would be applied to the central control 16 by manual input 36 or would be applied automatically from data storage and processing device 40 in accordance with a automatic program.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-6, a first embodiment of a programmable lock 60 adapted for application in the system of FIG. 1 is depicted. Said lock is mounted and supported in a housing, the front wall 62 of which is depicted in FIG. 2. Lock 60 is of the magnetic type and is provided with a barrel 64 formed with a key slot 66 extending from the outer surface 68 thereof. Slot 66 is dimensioned to receive the magnet bearing portion 70 of key 72. Said key is provided with a paddle-shaped handle portion 74 dimensioned to project out of slot 66 for the manipulation of lock and key. In the embodiment depicted, said magnet-bearing portion is substantially rectangular in cross section and is provided with a plurality oflaterally extending permanent magnets, of which permanent magnets 76, 78, 80 and 82 are depicted in FIG. 2. Said permanent magnets are spaced longitudinally along the length of magnet bearing portion 70 of key 72, andare suitably polarized as will be more particularly discussed below. Barrel 64 is provided with conventional means (not shown) such as a cam actuator for displacing a latch upon the rotation thereof to open and close the lock. Button 84 projects into the room and is provided for the purpose of locking out a maid. Maids would be provided with keys longer than the normal guest key, which keys would project substantially to end wall 86 of slot 66. When button 84 is pushed inwardly, shaft 88 mounted thereon would project into slot 66 and prevent the operation of such a maids key. When button 84 is positioned in the phantom line position 84', the longer maids key can be utilized.

Barrel 64 is mounted within a cylindrical bore in a cylinder 90. Means (not shown) would be provided for preventing the longitudinal displacement of barrel 64 relative to cylinder 90. The walls of said bore define a parting line 92 along which barrel 64 may rotate relative to cylinder 90 if the lock is open. Cylinder 90 is formed with a thickened region 94 through which a plurality of lateral bores extend, of which bores 96, 98, 100 and 102 are depicted in FIG. 2. Said lateral bores are spaced longitudinally along the thickened region 94 of cylinder 90 and are in registration and alignment with the permanent magnets of key 72, when said key is properly inserted within slot 66 of the barrel. Further, the outer surface of the barrel is formed with a plurality of recesses, of which recesses 106, 108, 110

and 112 are depicted. These recesses are dimensioned and aligned for registration with the corresponding lateral bores of cylinder and are positioned intermediate said lateral bores and the permanent magnets of the properly positioned key. Thus, by way of example, lateral bore 96 is in alignment and registration with recess 106 and permanent magnet 76. Barrel 64, cylinder 90 and plate 104 are all formed of brass or other nonmagnetic material so as not to interfere with the operation of the magnetic components of lock 60.

Received within each of the lateral bores is a polarized permanent magnet, as depicted by permanent magnets 114, 116, 118 and 120 received respectively in lateral bores 96, 98, 100 and 102.

As more particularly shown in FIG. 5, an upstanding shaft 122 is mounted in a socket 124 in region 94 of cylinder 90 and is retained in that position by a pin 126. Mounted on the upper portion of upstanding shaft 122 is a coil support structure 128 supporting three coil bobbins 130, 132, 134 spaced circumferentially 90 about shaft 122 and extending substantially parallel to said shaft toward plate 104 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). Coils 136, 138 and 140 are wound respectively on bobbins 130, 132 and 134.

Rotatably supported on shaft 122 between coil'support structure 128 and spacer 142 is a horseshoe magnet assembly 144 more particularly depicted in FIG. 3. Said horseshoe magnet assembly consists of a nonmagnetic support member 146 having shaft 122 journaled through aperture 148 thereof, and supporting in spaced relation, one of each side of said aperture, a pair of magnet structures 150 and 152. Each of the magnet structures is provided with three poles. Thus, magnet structure 150 is provided with a horseshoe portion 154 aligned with the ends thereof facing plate 104 and a central projecting portion 156 facing upwardly and aligned with bobbin 130. The arms of horseshoe portion 154 are of unequal length, the arm ending in pole 158 being longer than the arm terminating in pole 160. Magnet structure 150 is polarized so that the pole 162 defined by portion 156 is of one polarity, while poles 158 and are of the opposite polarity. Magnet structure 152 is similarly formed, having a central upwardly facing pole 164 of one polarity and-a pair of downwardly facing poles 166 and 168 of opposite polarity, pole 166 being on the longer arm. As more particularly shown in FIG. 2, the horseshoe portion 154 of magnetic structure 150 is dimensioned so that the respective arms are in registration with corresponding lateral bores 96 and 98. A similar upstanding shaft is mounted between lateral bores 100 and 102 for supporting a similarly constructed coil and horseshoe magnet arrangement. Like reference numerals are applied to the structure intermediate lateral bores 100 and 102 as were applied to the structure mounted intermediate lateral bores 96 and 98, except that the reference numerals associated with the structure mounted between lateral bores 100 and 102 are all primed.

As more particularly shown in FIG. 6 in connection with coils 136', 138' and 140, the three coils of each of said groups of coils are connected in series. Each of said groups of three coils are provided with a pair of current terminals 170 and 172 which would be connected to the associated door electronics module 34 (FIG. 1). The polarity of the three coils of each group is determined by whether current is applied to terminal 170 or to terminal 172. In the case of coils 136', 13 8 j a south pole is produced at the lower end of bobbin 130, and north poles are produced at the lower ends of bobbins 132' and 134'; as indicated by the polarity designations S and N in FIG. 6. On the other hand, the current applied to coils 136, 138 and 140 produce a north pole at the lower end of bobbin 130 and south poles at the respective lower ends of bobbins 132 and 134. The polarities produced in the three bobbins serve to rotatably position the associated horseshoe magnet assemblies 144 or 144'. The polarities of each of the However, if the upper pole of permanent magnet 78 were a north pole, permanent magnet 116 would be attracted rather than repelled, and the key would not open the lock.

If, in response to a reprogramming instruction from central control 116, horseshoe magnet assembly 144 were rotated 180 so that magnet structure 152 was in registration with lateral bores 96 and 98, the configurapermanent magnets depicted in the drawings is indicated by an N representing north or an S representing south. Thus, the rotatable position of horseshoe magnet assembly 144 is determined by the attraction of south pole 162 of magnet structure 150 to the north pole of bobbin 130 and the attraction of north pole 164 of magnet structure 152 to the south pole of bobbin 134. Horseshoe magnet assembly 144 may be repositioned so that magnet structure 152 is aligned with lateral bores 96 and 98 by changing the direction of current flow in coils 136, 138 and 140, thereby changing the polarity of the respective bobbins. Bobbin 132 and its associate coil 138 are provided to establish the direction of rotation of horseshoe magnet assembly 144 during the shift from the position depicted in FIGS. 2, and 6, to the alternate position depicted in FIG. 4.

While only two horseshoe magnet and coil structures are depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 2, a lock 60 in accordance with the invention may include a plurality of such permanent magnet and coil structures, as well as a corresponding plurality of pairs of lateral bores, recesses and permanent magnets. Two sets of permanent magnets, lateral bores and recesses would be provided for each horseshoe magnet and coil structure.

The operation of lock 60 will be explained in connection with FIGS. 2 and 4. As shown in FIG. 2, magnetic structure 150 is in registration with lateral bores 96 and 98. Pole 158 on the longer arm of horseshoe portion 154 of the magnet structure 150 is relatively close to permanent magnet 114 received within lateral bore 96 and attracts the south pole of said permanent magnet to retain said permanent magnet clear of parting line 92 and spaced from slot 66 inbarrel 64. On the other hand, the pole 160 on the shorter arm of said horseshoe portion 154 is spaced from permanent magnet 1 l6, and in any event, is of the same polarity as the upper pole of said permanent magnet so as to repel said permanent magnet against recess 108 in the absence of a suitable key. A permanent magnet positioned within one of the recesses in barrel 64 blocks the parting line and prevents the opening of the lock.

When the key 72 is inserted in the lock, the permanent magnets in the key react with the permanent magnets within the associated lateral bores. Thus, permanent magnet 78, which has a south polarity on its upper pole, repels the lower south pole of permanent magnet 116 to displace said permanent magnet from out of the parting line to clear the parting line. While permanent magnet 76 is depicted as having an upper south pole, the spacing between said south pole and the lower north pole of permanent magnet 144 within lateral bore 96 is such as to prevent the displacement of permanent magnet 114 into recess 106, said permanent magnet being retained in position by pole 158 of magnet structure 150. It is noted that the same effect would result if the upper pole of magnet 76 were a north pole.

tion of the key required to open the lock would change. This condition is illustrated in FIG. 4, where, in the absence of a key, the longer pole 166 of magnet structure 152 attracts permanent magnet 116 to a position clear of parting line 92, while the shorter pole 166 serves to bias permanent magnet 114 within the recess to block the parting line. In order for a key to open the lock of FIG. 4, permanent magnet 76 of said key must have an upper north pole while the polarity of the poles of permanent magnet 78 would be irrelevant to the operation of the key. Thus, in each orientation of each horseshoe magnet assembly, one of the two associated permanent magnets displaceable within each pair of lateral bores in cylinder is, in effect, a dummy, while the other functions to operate the lock.

Lock 60 may be reprogrammed by the selective positioning of each of the horseshoe magnet assemblies associated with each pair of lateral bores. The number of displaceable horseshoe magnet assemblies and associated structure provided in each lock would depend on the size of the lock and on the number of combinations to which the lock is to be programmable. The permanent magnets of the key may be reprogrammed by being subjected to a suitable magnetic field. One such reprogramming device would include a powerful magnetic core structure for each permanent magnet positioned so each key permanent magnet is positionable in an air gap in one of such core structures.

A second embodiment of the programmable lock in accordance with the invention is depicted in FIGS. 7-12 As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, lock 200 is mounted in a wall of the door illustrated by phantom line 02. The opening in said door is defined by an annular face plate 204 mounted on a flange 206 of barrel 208.}Said barrel is formed with a substantially rectangular slot 210 therein dimensioned to receive the magnet bearing portion 212 of a key 214. A groove 216 (HQ. 7) is formed in the wall of slot 210 to receive a corresponding ridge on key 214 to insure proper orientation of said key within said slot. The inner end of barrel 208 is formed with a lateral notch 216, a latch member 218 being retained within said lateral slot by an end plate 220. Latch member 218 projects rearwardly of barrel 208 and cooperates with the latch (not shown) of thie lock to open and close same in response to the rotation of the barrel. Barrel 208 is also formed with a first bore 222 providing communication between end 224 of the barrel and end wall 226 of slot 210 in said barrel. A second bore 228 in said barrel provides communication between end wall 224 and an indicator opening 230 in said barrel. A first rod 232 is received within first bore 222 and retained therein by a collar 234. A spring 236 normally biases said rod in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 8. Similarly, a second rod 238 passes through second bore 228, a collar 240 retaining a spring 242 which biases said second rod to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 12. A push button (not shown) would join rods 232 and 238 which are utilized to perform the main lock-out function, with the 9 outer end of rod 238 projecting through base plate 204 to provide a visual indication of the actuation of the main lock-out button while rod 232 extends into slot 210 to prevent the insertion of the longer maids key as described above..A suitable indexing device would be coupled to the button to insure retention of the button androds in the lock-out position.

Barrel 208 isreceived within a first cylinder 244, said first cylinder and barrel being designed to permit relative rotational but not longitudinal displacement, a parting line 246 being defined therebetween. A second outer cylinder 248 extends around first cylinder 244, a second parting line 250 being defined between said first and second cylinders for relative rotational but not longitudinal displacement of said cylinders. Outer cylinder 248 is formed with a cut-out quadrant 252 to permit the relative displacement of the two cylinders, as will be more particularly described below.

Four chimneys 254 are mounted in apertures 256 in second cylinder 248, while two chimneys 258 are mounted in apertures 260 in first cylinder 244. First cylinder 244 is provided with four recesses 264, one of each of said recesses being in registration with the bore of one of the chimneys 254. Similarly, two recesses 266 are formed in barrel 208 in registration with the corresponding bores 260 and chimneys 258.

Each of the chimneys 254 and 258 are provided with a fixed magnetic member 268 mounted on the upper end of the respective bores 260. A first coil 270 is wound about each chimney in the region of fixed magnetic member 268.

Also received within each bore 260 of each of said chimneys is a displaceable magnetic member or lock pin 272. A second coil 274 is wound about the base of each of said chimneys so as to encompass lock pin 272 when said lock pin is received within the associated recess 264 and 266. When the lock pin 272 in one of the chimneys 258 is received within the associated recess 266, then parting line 246 is blocked and relative rotation between the barrel and the first cylinder 244 is prevented. Similarly, when any one of the lock pins 272 in one of chimneys 254 is received in the associated recess 264, parting line 250 is blocked and relative rotation between the first and second cylinders is prevented. I

Key 214 is provided with four laterally extending permanent magnets 276, 278, 280 and 282. The polarities of the respective permanent magnets, as well as the polarities of magnetic members 268 and lock pins 272 are depicted by means of N and S designations. The particular key 214 depicted in FIG. 8 will not open lock 200, and is shown for illustrative purposes.

The first coil 270and the second coil 274 of each chimney are connected to the door electronics module 34 (FIG. 1) and are selectively energized in response to programming instructions from central control 16. By means of said coils, each of the lock pins 272 and magnetic members 268 may be selectively polarized as desired. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, energizing current would be applied to the first and second coils of each chimney so that the respective magnetic member 268 and lock pin 272 thereof are oppositely polarized. Thus, in the chimney 254 aligned with permanent magnet 278 of key 214, the lock pin is energized so that its upper pole is north, while the magnetic member 268 is energized so that its lower pole is north. Thus, it is apparent that the magnetic member 268 in each chimney serves to bias the displaceable lock pin 272 into the associated recess and could be replaced by' a spring if desired.

As in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 2-6, the lock pins of lock 200 are displaced by repulsion out of blocking position with the parting line. Thus, permanent magnet 276 in key 214 is polarized so as to displace lock pin 272 of the associated chimney 254 due to magnetic repulsion. Since the upper pole of permanent magnet 278 is a north pole, this pole attracts lock pin 272 and prevents the operation of the lock. If all of the lock pins 272 in the four chimneys 254 were repelled by the permanent magnets in the key 214, then parting line 250 would be cleared and by rotation of the key, barrel 208 and inner cylinder 244 would be rotated as a unit relative to second cylinder 248. The two chimneys 258 would ride in the cut-out quadrant 252 in outer cylinder 248 and would not interfere with such rotation. As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 10, an arcuate insert 284 is received within a recess 286 in second cylinder 248 to retain key 214 within slot 210 when the key is rotated. Key 214 is formed with a notch 288 for receiving arcuate insert 284.

Parting line 246 and chimneys 258 are provided to permit a second type of key to open the lock. Such a second type of key might be a pass key or a maids key adapted to open a plurality of locks. The use of the longer key would be prevented by the maids lock-out rod 232 as described above, but if such key was used, then the lock pins 272 in chimneys 258 would function in the manner described above in connection with chimneys 254 to release parting line 246 independent of the operation of parting line 250.

While lock 200 is depicted as having four chimneys in the main level of operation and two chimneys in the subordinate level of operation, additional chimneys and additional levels of operation may be incorporated in the lock by the application of the principles enumerated above. While the two programmable lock embodiments depicted above are magnetic locks, the programmable lock system in accordance with the invention would be equally applicable to a tumbler-type lock which is remotely programmable. I

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

l. A programmable lock system comprising lock structure means having first and second portions separated by a parting line, lock pin means displaceably mounted within one of said first and second lock structure portions for positioning so as to either block or clear said parting line, and remotely actuatable programming device means operatively coupled to said lock pin means for placing said lock pin means in one of a plurality of selected configurations; key means formed for receipt by one of said first and second lock structure portions in registration with said lock pin means; and key programming means for placing said key means in one of a plurality of selected configurations corresponding to the selected configuration in which said lock pin means was placed by said programming device means so that said key means, when in registration with said lock pin means, will position said lock pin means clear of said parting line to permit relative displacement of said first and second lock structure portions, and therefore the opening of said lock.

2. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 1, wherein said lock pin means are permanent magnets, said key means including permanent magnets programmable by said key programming means to repeal at least some of said lock pin means from said parting line.

3. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 2, wherein said programming device means includes means for selectively positioning said magnetic lock pin means relative to said parting line.

4. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 3, wherein said programming device means includes magnetic means for selectively positioning one of each pair of said magnetic lock pin means in a neutral position clear of said parting line, the other magnetic lock pin means of said pair being positioned to block said parting line and for displacement out of such blocking position by a properly programmed key means.

5. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 4, wherein said magnetic means of said programming device means includes a rotatably mounted horseshoe magnet assembly having a pair of magnet structures positioned in spaced relation relative to the axis of rotation of said assembly, each of said magnet structures having a single pole of a first polarity projecting from one side thereof and a pair of poles of the opposite polarity projecting from another side thereof, said magnet structures being shaped and positioned so that one of said pair of poles are in registration with a pair of said magnetic lock pin means at each rotational position of said magnet assembly, one of said poles of each of said pair of poles being closer to the one of said pair of magnetic lock pin means to be placed in said neutral position and being ofa polarity to retain said magnetic lock pin means in said neutral position, said programming device means including coil structure means for selectively rotationally positioning one or the other of said pair of magnet structures relative to the associated pair of permanent magnet means by cooperation with said single poles of said magnet structures.

6. A programmable lock structure as recited in claim 2, wherein said programming device means includes coil means positioned about each of said magnetic lock pin means for selectively polarizing said lock pin means to a predetermined polarity.

7. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 6, wherein said lock structure includes means for biasing said magnetic lock pin means to a position at which said parting line is blocked.

8. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 7, wherein said biasing means is a magnetic biasing means including a magnetic member positioned in alignment with each of said magnetic lock pin means and second coil means positioned about said magnetic member for selectively polarizing said magnetic member, said programming device means including means for coordinately polarizing each of said magnetic members and the associated magnetic lock pin means so that said magnetic lock pin means is biased to said blocking position.

9. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first lock structure portion is a barrel member having an aperture. therein for receiving said key means and a plurality of recesses formed in the peripheral surface thereof; said lock structure means second portion including a cylinder means having an aperture therein dimensioned to receive said barrel member for relative rotational displacement along said parting line, said cylinder means being formed with means for receiving said magnetic lock pin means in registration with said barrel recesses.

10. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 9, including a second cylinder formed with an aperture for receiving said first-mentioned cylinder for the relative rotational displacement of said first and second cylinders along a second parting line, said first cylinder being formed with a plurality of recesses in the peripheral surface thereof, said second cylinder including means for positioning a further plurality of said lock pin means in alignment with said first cylinder recesses for the selective blocking of the parting line between said first and second cylinders, said lock including remotely actuated programming device means operatively coupled to said further lock pin means for placing said further lock pin means in one of a plurality of selected configurations, at least two key means being provided for programming by said key programming means, one of said key means being adapted to position said firstmentioned lock pin means clear of the parting line between said barrel and said first cylinder, the other of said key means being adapted to position the further lock pin means clear of the second parting line between said first and second cylinders.

11. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 1, including means for coordinately actuating said key programming means and said programming device means for the coordinate programming of said lock structure means and said key means.

12. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 1, including a plurality of said lock structure means, and a single remotely located central control means operatively coupled to the programming device means of each of said lock structure means for the remote programming of each of said lock structure means.

13. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 12, wherein said central control means includes said key programming means and means for coordinately actuating said key programming means, the programming device means of at least a selected one of said lock structure means.

14. A programmable lock structure as recited in claim 12, including data transmission means for interconnecting said central control means and said lock structure means; central multiplexing and demultiplexing means coupling said central control means to said data transmission means; local multiplexing and demultiplexing means connecting each of said lock structure means to said data transmission means; utilization circuit means associated with and in the region of each of said lock structure means and coupled to said local multiplexing and demultiplexing means; said central control means being adapted to selectively transmit command signals to each of said utilization circuit means along said data transmission means or to receive signals from each of said utilization circuit means.

15. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 12, wherein each of said lock structure means includes means for sensing the program thereof, said central control means being operatively coupled to the sensing means of each of said lock structure means for detecting the program of each of said lock structure means.

16. A programmable lock system comprising latch means, lock means operatively coupled to said latch means and including remotely controlled, electrically actuable programming device means for disposing said lock means in one of a plurality of selected configurations; key means formed for receipt by said lock means and disposable in a plurality of configurations corresponding to the configurations of said lock means, said lock means and key means being adapted so that when said lock means and key means are disposed in a corresponding one of said plurality of selected configurations, said latch means being displaceable by the manual manipulation of said key means in said lock means to open said lock.

17. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 16, wherein said key means includes permanent magnets programmable in a plurality of magnetic configurations, said remotely actuable programming device means including magnetic circuit means positionable in response to the permanent magnets of said key means to permit the displacement of said latch means by the manual manipulation of said key means.

18. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 17, including key programming means for placing said key means in one of said plurality of selected configurations and means for coordinately actuating said key programming means and said remotely actuable programming device means for the coordinate programming of said lock means and said key means.

19. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 18, including a plurality of said lock means, and a single remotely located central control means operatively coupled to the programming device means of each of said lock means and to said key programming means for the coordinate actuation of said key programming means and at least one of said lock means. 

1. A programmable lock system comprising lock structure means having first and second portions separated by a parting line, lock pin means displaceably mounted within one of said first and second lock structure portions for positioning so as to either block or clear said parting line, and remotely actuatable programming device means operatively coupled to said lock pin means for placing said lock pin means in one of a plurality of selected configurations; key means formed for receipt by one of said first and second lock structure portions in registration with said lock pin means; and key programming means for placing said key means in one of a plurality of selected configurations corresponding to the selected configuration in which sAid lock pin means was placed by said programming device means so that said key means, when in registration with said lock pin means, will position said lock pin means clear of said parting line to permit relative displacement of said first and second lock structure portions, and therefore the opening of said lock.
 2. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 1, wherein said lock pin means are permanent magnets, said key means including permanent magnets programmable by said key programming means to repel at least some of said lock pin means from said parting line.
 3. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 2, wherein said programming device means includes means for selectively positioning said magnetic lock pin means relative to said parting line.
 4. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 3, wherein said programming device means includes magnetic means for selectively positioning one of each pair of said magnetic lock pin means in a neutral position clear of said parting line, the other magnetic lock pin means of said pair being positioned to block said parting line and for displacement out of such blocking position by a properly programmed key means.
 5. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 4, wherein said magnetic means of said programming device means includes a rotatably mounted horseshoe magnet assembly having a pair of magnet structures positioned in spaced relation relative to the axis of rotation of said assembly, each of said magnet structures having a single pole of a first polarity projecting from one side thereof and a pair of poles of the opposite polarity projecting from another side thereof, said magnet structures being shaped and positioned so that one of said pair of poles are in registration with a pair of said magnetic lock pin means at each rotational position of said magnet assembly, one of said poles of each of said pair of poles being closer to the one of said pair of magnetic lock pin means to be placed in said neutral position and being of a polarity to retain said magnetic lock pin means in said neutral position, said programming device means including coil structure means for selectively rotationally positioning one or the other of said pair of magnet structures relative to the associated pair of permanent magnet means by cooperation with said single poles of said magnet structures.
 6. A programmable lock structure as recited in claim 2, wherein said programming device means includes coil means positioned about each of said magnetic lock pin means for selectively polarizing said lock pin means to a predetermined polarity.
 7. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 6, wherein said lock structure includes means for biasing said magnetic lock pin means to a position at which said parting line is blocked.
 8. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 7, wherein said biasing means is a magnetic biasing means including a magnetic member positioned in alignment with each of said magnetic lock pin means and second coil means positioned about said magnetic member for selectively polarizing said magnetic member, said programming device means including means for coordinately polarizing each of said magnetic members and the associated magnetic lock pin means so that said magnetic lock pin means is biased to said blocking position.
 9. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first lock structure portion is a barrel member having an aperture therein for receiving said key means and a plurality of recesses formed in the peripheral surface thereof; said lock structure means second portion including a cylinder means having an aperture therein dimensioned to receive said barrel member for relative rotational displacement along said parting line, said cylinder means being formed with means for receiving said magnetic lock pin means in registration with said barrel recesses.
 10. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 9, including a second cylinder formed with an aperture For receiving said first-mentioned cylinder for the relative rotational displacement of said first and second cylinders along a second parting line, said first cylinder being formed with a plurality of recesses in the peripheral surface thereof, said second cylinder including means for positioning a further plurality of said lock pin means in alignment with said first cylinder recesses for the selective blocking of the parting line between said first and second cylinders, said lock including remotely actuated programming device means operatively coupled to said further lock pin means for placing said further lock pin means in one of a plurality of selected configurations, at least two key means being provided for programming by said key programming means, one of said key means being adapted to position said first-mentioned lock pin means clear of the parting line between said barrel and said first cylinder, the other of said key means being adapted to position the further lock pin means clear of the second parting line between said first and second cylinders.
 11. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 1, including means for coordinately actuating said key programming means and said programming device means for the coordinate programming of said lock structure means and said key means.
 12. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 1, including a plurality of said lock structure means, and a single remotely located central control means operatively coupled to the programming device means of each of said lock structure means for the remote programming of each of said lock structure means.
 13. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 12, wherein said central control means includes said key programming means and means for coordinately actuating said key programming means, the programming device means of at least a selected one of said lock structure means.
 14. A programmable lock structure as recited in claim 12, including data transmission means for interconnecting said central control means and said lock structure means; central multiplexing and demultiplexing means coupling said central control means to said data transmission means; local multiplexing and demultiplexing means connecting each of said lock structure means to said data transmission means; utilization circuit means associated with and in the region of each of said lock structure means and coupled to said local multiplexing and demultiplexing means; said central control means being adapted to selectively transmit command signals to each of said utilization circuit means along said data transmission means or to receive signals from each of said utilization circuit means.
 15. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 12, wherein each of said lock structure means includes means for sensing the program thereof, said central control means being operatively coupled to the sensing means of each of said lock structure means for detecting the program of each of said lock structure means.
 16. A programmable lock system comprising latch means, lock means operatively coupled to said latch means and including remotely controlled, electrically actuable programming device means for disposing said lock means in one of a plurality of selected configurations; key means formed for receipt by said lock means and disposable in a plurality of configurations corresponding to the configurations of said lock means, said lock means and key means being adapted so that when said lock means and key means are disposed in a corresponding one of said plurality of selected configurations, said latch means being displaceable by the manual manipulation of said key means in said lock means to open said lock.
 17. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 16, wherein said key means includes permanent magnets programmable in a plurality of magnetic configurations, said remotely actuable programming device means including magnetic circuit means positionable in response to the permanent magnets of said key means to permit the displacement of said latch means by the manual manipulation of said key means.
 18. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 17, including key programming means for placing said key means in one of said plurality of selected configurations and means for coordinately actuating said key programming means and said remotely actuable programming device means for the coordinate programming of said lock means and said key means.
 19. A programmable lock system as recited in claim 18, including a plurality of said lock means, and a single remotely located central control means operatively coupled to the programming device means of each of said lock means and to said key programming means for the coordinate actuation of said key programming means and at least one of said lock means. 